St Columba'S United Reformed Church

We've released details of our Lent course today with our Minister and Ruth Kinahan. Here's the leaflet https://tinyurl.com/stclent2020 and we hope you will join us.

During 2020's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we remember our brothers and sisters in Christ; we remember our significant common ground; we recognise the differences that can divide; and, we pray that we can unite - with Christ at the centre - to best exemplify God's love to this fragile world.
[The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an annual ecumenical event, usually between 18th and 25th January.]
#weekofprayerforchristianunity

Wishing everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We hope that 2020 is good to you.

So, Christmas Day has been & gone for another year, the pressies have been shared & opened, the food has just about been fully digested, the Queen has given her annual speech, and we now have time to fully relax... or maybe start some serious Christmas Sales shopping... but let's not forget the original reason for these celebrations: the birth of Jesus Christ.
"...Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke, Chapter 2, Verses 10-11 (NRSV).

Wishing all our friends and members a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We hope you enjoy the festivities.
God bless.

A reminder that tomorrow is our annual gift service. Donations of gifts would be most appreciated. The service starts at 10:45am.

The Advent and Christmas issue of the newsletter is now available online via https://www.saintcolumbas.org/newsletter< br>

A Christmas message from our minister...
There is something about Christmas and the build up to the big day which appeals to the inner child within me. All those things that which I find irritating the rest of the year, I absolutely love about Christmas! The glitz and the tinsel, the constant Christmas carols and seasonal songs, the air of expectation. Even the meaning of Christmas gets wrapped up into soundbites which should annoy. Here are some to be getting on with: Jesus ...is the reason for the season! God is for life: not just for Christmas! Christ is the gift that keeps on giving! Go on, admit it, they are rather clever!
Let’s stick with the last: Christ as gift and giver. However much we bemoan the commercialisation of Christmas, it is still a time for giving. So long as we remember that it is the thought that counts, rather than the size and amount we spend, what a lovely way to celebrate the coming of God amongst us. An echo of the gift of God’s self-giving.
The thing about gifts is that they need to be received. A gift is an offering and however much love and thought it comes with, we still need to take it and unwrap it. Even then, it can go unopened, unwanted and unused. How many presents end up broken, in the bin or passed on to charity shops and unsuspecting friends? God comes to us in the Christ child, but we still have to receive Christ and welcome him into our lives.
The other thing about gifts is that they ask for a response from us. I have a wonderful friend with an annoying fault, for he never says “thank you.” I know he is appreciative, but it is really frustrating and, dare I say it, rude! It makes me feel taken for granted, yet I’m sure he would be mortified if he realised. So too with Jesus Christ, the gift above all gifts, our only response if we truly receive him into our lives, is to give thanks. This is the gift that keeps on giving, for in each and every generation, year on year, we celebrate the time when God came to us as one of us. God has never left us to face the world alone, but is always with us. Thanks be to God.
Have a wonderful Christmas,
Helen Garton
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Oxford Winter Night Shelter (OWNS), 2020
OWNS will be hosted at St Columba's on Monday nights, 9:00pm - 8:00am, on Tuesday mornings morning from 6th January - 31st March 2020.
For those wishing to volunteer, training sessions are available as follows...... - Tuesday 3rd December, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, at St Michael at the Northgate. - Saturday 7th December, 10:00am - 12.00pm, at St Clements Family Centre.
For more information, contact: info@ownsoxford.org.uk
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Our service was led today by our very own "Phillip Schofield", Jonathan Herring, who invited numerous people to join him on the couch throughout worship.
We enjoyed much personal insight, fun, laughter, and even an interview with "Alexa"!
The key message was that we all have much to learn from those we meet - no matter their age, gender, or background - and that our church families & communities enable us to share knowledge with - & show love for - each other as we gather t...ogether.
Thanks to Jonathan and all his guests for the fantastic time we shared.
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Images of our church and church life